Holy See Calls For Universal Ratification Of Anti-Personnel Landmine treaty

Geneva – In A Pressing Appeal Delivered Friday, The Holy See Has Urged All Nations To Ratify The Anti-Personnel Landmines convention. Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, The Holy See’s Permanent Observer To The United Nations In Geneva, Emphasized The Critical Link between Disarmament And Development During The 2025 Intersessional Meeting Of The Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention.

Marshall Islands Praised For Ratification

Archbishop Balestrero Offered Congratulations To The Marshall Islands For Their Recent Ratification Of The Ottawa Convention. this landmark Treaty, Initially Proposed In Oslo In 1997 And Enacted In 1999, Aims To Eradicate Anti-Personnel Landmines Globally. The Archbishop Reaffirmed The Goal Of Universal Ratification, Highlighting The Convention’s Potential To Alleviate The Suffering Of landmine Victims And Prevent Future Casualties.

Concerns Over Potential Treaty Withdrawals

A Note Of Concern Was Raised Regarding Some States Considering Withdrawing From The Convention. “The Holy See Is Deeply Concerned About The Intention Of Certain States Parties To Withdraw From The Convention,” He Stated. He Urged All Nations Not Yet Participating To Join promptly And To Implement The Treaty Fully.

The Devastating Impact Of Landmines

The united Nations Office For Disarmament Affairs (Unoda) Reports That Anti-Personnel And Anti-Vehicle Landmines Have Inflicted Immense suffering For Decades. These devices Continue To Kill And Injure Civilians Long After Conflicts Cease. The Ottawa Convention Has Already Led To The Destruction Of Over 40 Million Stockpiled Landmines, Significantly Reducing Casualties.

Did You Know? The HALO Trust, one of the world’s largest mine clearance organizations, reported clearing over 77,000 landmines and other explosive remnants of war in 2024 alone.

Disarmament As A Moral Imperative

Archbishop Balestrero Stressed That The Ottawa Convention Prioritizes Human Dignity. He Established “A Clear Link Between Disarmament And Development.” He Expressed Sorrow Over the Numerous Deaths Caused Annually By Explosive Remnants Of War, With Children Disproportionately Affected.He Affirmed That Existing Disarmament Treaties Are Not Just Legal Obligations But Also “Moral Commitments To Present And Future Generations.”

According To The Archbishop, Compliance With International Law And Disarmament Treaties Strengthens Nations By Showing “An Enduring Source Of Strength And Duty towards All Of Humanity.”

Military Spending Under Scrutiny

The Holy See’s Representative Sharply Criticized The Excessively High Global Military Spending. The Sum, Which exceeded $2.7 Trillion In 2024, Was Described As “A Grave Imbalance and Even Scandal.” He Contrasted This Enormous Expenditure With The Insufficient Resources Allocated To Essential Services Such As Social Assistance,Food Security,And Human Development.

The Archbishop Emphasized That “No Peace Is possible Without True Disarmament.” He Warned That National Defense should Not Transform Into A “Race To Rearmament.”

A Call for Dialogue And Reason

Archbishop Balestrero concluded By Urging All Nations To “Return To Reason And Dialogue,” Advocating For Diplomatic Solutions To Prevent Escalation. The Holy See Reaffirmed Its Commitment To Promoting Peace. It Also Stated The Importance Of Preserving The Convention, “Remaining Fully Confident That The Sanctity Of Human Life…Will Continue To Inspire Its Implementation.”

Pro Tip: Support organizations like the HALO Trust or Mines Advisory Group (MAG) to contribute to global mine clearance efforts.